OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County men's basketball team (26-5) dominated the Labette Cardinals (10-21) in every fact of the game on Monday night in the first round of the Region 6 Tournament Monday night at JCCC Gymnasium, winning 81-42. 

The Cavaliers led 37-23 after 20 minutes then left little doubt by outscoring the Cardinals 44-19 to secure the 39-point victory. JCCC will now host Highland on Friday March 8 at 7:30 p.m. The Scotties advanced with an 83-68 victory over Hesston. The other semifinal pits No. 1 seed Kansas City Kansas against No. 4 seed Fort Scott at 3 p.m., at JCCC Gymnasium. The winners will compete for the Region 6 Championship on Saturday, March 9 at 4 p.m., at JCCC, with the winner advancing to the to the NJCAA Division II Championship in March 18-23 in Danville, Ill. 

The second leading scorer in KJCCC D-II Massi Malterer led the No. 18-ranked Cavaliers with a game-high 21 points, making 9-of-18 shots, including two 3-pointers. He also grabbed five rebounds. 

Freshman forward Brandon Mann also finished double figures with 13 points, along with seven rebounds, and sophomore forward Kyler Mann contributed nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. 

The Cavaliers bench played a key role in the victory, contributing 28 points, 13 rebounds, six steals and seven blocked shots. 

Freshman guard Mauryon Turner led the reserves with eight points.  Sophomore forward Traymond Willis-Shaw followed with seven points, seven boards, two steals and two blocks.  Sophomore guard Drake Davison tallied five points, two assists and a game-high four blocks, and freshmen forwards Donald Bangham, Jr., and Traeger Rader each had four points. 

Christian Yeates was the only Labette player to post double digits in points with 11. He was also the Cardinals' top rebounder with nine.